Im thinking of putting grass down and grazing with cattle, it would be down for three or four years to clean up blackgrass and improve the soil structure to allow direct drilling once back in arable and to improve the soil fertility.
The grass would be a mix of ryegrass, timothy, cocksfoot and red and white clover. I would love a true herbal ley but this would be double the seed cost!
I have a graizer who will pay enough to cover the cost of the rent I have to pay and buy the above seed. I keep the BPS.
Has anyone got any experience of growing wheat after the ley has finished, am I likely to get any significant yield increases to help cover the reduced income whilst the fields are in grass. I would have thought the wheat will be black grass free for a few years so should be cheaper to grow.
It been suggested to me to ways of coming out of the ley, either in the spring, by roundup after taking a cut then dd stubble turnips that would be grazed off in August before dd winter wheat. Im slightly worried this is not enough time to reduce frit fly ect from the grass and allow the roots enough time to root so not to tie up all the nitrogen.
Another option would be to terminate the ley in the autumn and direct drill with winter beans, this delays the first winter wheat crop but I guess increases the chance of that 1st cereal being a really good crop.
Any advise about his would be greatly appreciated as its a bit of a leap of faith and I need to ensure I do not get the management wrong and muck up the following crops, all of which will be direct drilled.
The grass would be a mix of ryegrass, timothy, cocksfoot and red and white clover. I would love a true herbal ley but this would be double the seed cost!
I have a graizer who will pay enough to cover the cost of the rent I have to pay and buy the above seed. I keep the BPS.
Has anyone got any experience of growing wheat after the ley has finished, am I likely to get any significant yield increases to help cover the reduced income whilst the fields are in grass. I would have thought the wheat will be black grass free for a few years so should be cheaper to grow.
It been suggested to me to ways of coming out of the ley, either in the spring, by roundup after taking a cut then dd stubble turnips that would be grazed off in August before dd winter wheat. Im slightly worried this is not enough time to reduce frit fly ect from the grass and allow the roots enough time to root so not to tie up all the nitrogen.
Another option would be to terminate the ley in the autumn and direct drill with winter beans, this delays the first winter wheat crop but I guess increases the chance of that 1st cereal being a really good crop.
Any advise about his would be greatly appreciated as its a bit of a leap of faith and I need to ensure I do not get the management wrong and muck up the following crops, all of which will be direct drilled.